In July, 2006, the AER O&M Division approved a position paper which states that during instruction, O&M specialists will provide consumers with information about how actuated signals function and techniques for dealing with them, including strategies to find and use pedestrian buttons and cross.
This page provides some of this information and strategies.

Signalized intersections have changed drastically in the last 30 years.
Strategies that blind people traditionally use to cross at signalized intersections are no longer effective and reliable because of some of these changes.Â
The traditional strategy for crossing at signalized intersections was as follows:

At unfamiliar intersections, observe the movement of the traffic to determine and become familiar with the pattern of the signal (that is, in which order the traffic on different legs of the intersection have the green signal, whether there are any special features such as left-turning movement, etc.), and the geometry of the streets (their width and angle of intersecting, etc).

At familiar intersections

Approach the curb and, after finding a location that is an appropriate distance from the corner so that it is likely to be within the crosswalk, listen for a cycle or two in order to align using the sound of traffic;

Once aligned properly, start to cross as soon as the traffic on the parallel street (the street intersecting the street to be crossed) begins to surge forward (i.e. "cross with parallel traffic surge"), because that surge indicates that the signal is green for them and therefore green for pedestrians crossing parallel to them.

Listed below are features of signalized intersections that are different than they were 30 years ago, and the effect of each feature on the strategies blind people use to cross.
Each feature has a link to more information, and suggestions to make crossings more reliably safe.

Effects: Where pedestrians have to find and push a pedestrian button to ensure time to cross, the crossing must start in the appropriate phase of cycle immediately following the push of the button, and therefore:

Effect: Usually there is no signal for the traffic in the separate lane, and their movement has little or no relation to the signal and traffic movement at the main intersection, so they must be crossed during a gap in traffic or yielding vehicles.

Do blind people need to determine or pay attention to the status of the pedestrian signal?

Some O&M instructors and pedestrians who are blind do not consider the status of the pedestrian signal to be an appropriate measure of the safety of a crossing. However, they should be aware of the laws regarding obedience to pedestrian signals.

Many individuals mistakenly believe that pedestrians always have the right-of-way. The Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) provides standard laws that form the basis for traffic laws in the United States. Some states have adopted slight variations from the laws described next, but most use the UVC language.

The UVC specifically limits pedestrian right-of-way where pedestrian signals are installed (National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances, 2000). UVC Â§ 11-501(a) requires pedestrians to "obey the instructions of any official traffic control device specifically applicable to such pedestrian," and UVC Â§ 11-203 explains the meaning of the pedestrian control signals.

At locations with pedestrian control signals, pedestrians are legally crossing if they begin their crossing during the WALK signal. It is legal to complete a crossing during the flashing Don't Walk signal if they began during the WALK signal, but it is not legal to begin to cross during the flashing or steady Don't Walk signal.